Electric battery.



P. A. DECKER. ELECTRIC BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1907. RENEWED NOV. 11, 1909.

2 sKEETs sHEBT 1.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

.ing a UNITED earns PATENT orrion FRANK A. DECKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DECKER ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A COR- rozourxon or DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC BATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atcnted Dec. 21, 1909.

Application filed June 20, 1907, Serial No. 379,834? Renewed November 11, 1909. Serial No. 527,569.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, FRANK A. DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain In'iprovements in Electric Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric battery having one or more units, respectively -con'iprising a vessel containing cells having resistance duets by which their interiors communicate with a common compartment with the compartments of the several units used connected by resistance ducts, by which electrical leakage between the several cells and several compartments may be prevented and the cells of one or more units may be filled from a supply tank from which liquid is forced bythe admission thereto of air from a compressed air reservoir controlled by suitable valve mechanism.

The leading object of the invention is to provide, in a single fluid battery of either the ordinary or plunge type. a convenient construction by which any desired number of units can readily be connected, disconnected. charged and discharged and short circuiting between the cells and units prevented.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will more fully appear by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof, ol which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the invention showing the battery in end elc vation; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a plan of the battery with several con nectcd unit's; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a sectional side elevation of the battery with several connected units; Fig. 4- is a detail view showing a plan of a yes sel containing cells and connections comprised in the battery unit; Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a vertical longitudinal sec tion of the construction represented in Fig. 4 with the cells elevated; Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a vertical transverse section of the battery with features of the construc tion modified; .Fig. 7 is a detail view showla'n of features of the construction shown in Fig.' .6, and Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a longitudinal section of a coupling for connected vessels.

As shown in the drawings, the battery units comprise the vessels 1 containing the cells 2 resting upon supports 1, each cell having therein a resistance duct 3 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or 3 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In each unit these resistance ducts provide a fluid connection between each cell and a compartment l beneath them in the vessel, tapering nipples 3 on the ducts passing through the bottoms of the cells and forming tight joints therewith. The ducts, composed of suitable insulating material, have such small bore and considerable length that no considerable current will leak through the solution contained therein.

The several battery units have their compartments 4 connected by the resistance ducts 5, of suitable insulating material, which provide passages a'tlording liquid connections between the compartments, and preventing any coi'isiderable leakage of cur rent by reason of the small bore and considerable length of the passage. To provide a tight joint. between the vessels 1 and the ducts 5,thc externally threaded boxes (3 containing the rubber packing 7 having channels tilled with graphite are sleeved on the ducts, and the boxes screwed into the end walls of the vessels through which the ducts pass; the vessels being drawn together so that the packings are pressed by flanges 5' on the ducts. The battery compartments 4- being thus connccted together and with their respective cells, are filled and emptied by means of a tank 8. and a conduit 9 which extends into the tank and is connected with an end compartment. The tank is preferably placed below the level of the compartments so that the battery may discharge its solution into the tank by gravity. A compressed air reservoir 10, charged by means of a pump 11, is connected with the tank 8 by a conduit. 12 containing a reducing valve 13 and a controlling valve 14. The latter is preferably operated by connecting it with a stem 15 forming the core of a solenoid 16 in an electric circuit 17, which is controlled by a switch 18, the valve being lifted to open the conduit. when the solenoid is excited by closing the switch and dropping to close the conduit when the circuit is broken.

It is to he understood that in the foregoing construction the relation of the cells and 7.

For moderate voltages, up to sa thirty volts, it is sufiicient to use one unit 0 twenty cells or less. But for higher voltages, say one hundred and ten volts, it is desirable to employ several units, to facilitate handling an to limit the leakage of current between the cells. It is therefore to be understood that the particular number as well as the arrangement of units and cells may be varied as required by varying conditions.

The term resistance duct or passage is to be understood as meaning-a duct or passage of such length and cross section as will provide the necessary resistance to electric leakage through the solution contained therein. The proportions of such ducts will be varied: with varying conditions and will depend upon the number of cells and the conductivity of the solution employed.

Having described my claim 7 1. In an electric battery, a vessel and in said vessel a plurality of removable cells each having a resistance duct connecting ;its interior and the interior of said vessel, said vessel and cells being adapted for holding a solution communicating from one to the other through said ducts.

2. In an electric battery, a vessel containinvention, I

-1ng a plurality of cells each having a resistance passage,'-a liquid compartment communicating with sald passages, a liquid reservoir connected with said compartment, and a fluid pressure reservoir connected wit-h said liquid reservoir.

'SQIn an electric battery, a plurality of units, each comprising a compartment and a plurality of cells having resistance ducts commumcating With said compartment,

means for connecting said compartments,

and means for filling and emptying said cells through said compartments.

4. In an; electric battery, a plurality of units, each comprising a bottom compartment and a plurality of cells having re sistance ducts connecting them with said compartments, resistance ducts connectin said com artments, and -means connecte with sai compartments for filling and emptying said cells therethrough.

5. In an electric'battery, a pair of vessels,

said 'vesse caliber as to prevent shortcircuiting be tween the cells by way thereof.

a resistance duct connecting said vessels and.

in each of said vessels a set of removable cells each having a resistance, duct connectmg its interior and the interior of the vessel containing it whereby intercommunication is efiected between the respective vessels and the cells contained therein.

6. In an electric battery, a vessel containing a liquid compartment, a resistance duct communicating with said compartment, and

a box containing a packing sleeved on said I duct and set in said vessel.

7. In an electric battery, a air of units each comprising a plurality 0 cells and a liquid compartment communicating therewith, a resistance duct connectingsald compartments, and a box containinga packing sleeved on said duct and screwed nto the wall of each compartment.

8. In an electric battery, a vessel, in saidvessel a set of cells each having a resistance duct for effecting intercommunication be? tween the interiors of said'vessel and cells, a liquid reservoir connected with said vessel, a fluid pressure reservoir connected with said liquid reservoir, a reducing valve for regulating the pressure communicated from said fluid pressure reservoir to said liquid reservoir, and a valve for opening and closing the connection between said reservoirs.

9. In an electric battery, a set of cells each having aresistance duct, a compartment communicating with said cells by said resistance ducts, a liquid reservoir-connected with said compartment, a fluid pressure reservoir connected with said liquid reservoir, a valve for controlling the communication between said reservoirs, and an electric circuit containing a switch and a solenoid for operating said valve.

10. An electric battery comprising a vessaid vessel, each cell havin a resistance duct through which it can be iIlled and emptied by lowering and raising it in the solution contained in said vessel. Y I

11. An electric battery comprising a vessel for holding solution and a plurality of cells adapted to be raised and lowered in said vessel, each cell containing a tubecommunicat-in through the bottom thereof with and having such length and In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name this 13th day of June, 1907, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. DECKER.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS B. Crooner, CHAnLEs N. BUTLER. 

